Incoming freshman Marjani (MJ) Knighten was named a high school All-American last week, earning a spot on the MaxPreps 2013 Softball All-America second team. Knighten was one of only 19 infielders nationally to be honored as an All-American.

A native of Buena Park, Calif., Knighten enjoyed a standout senior season for Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton, Calif. She hit .478 with 12 doubles, two triples, nine homers, 42 runs and 30 RBIs to help the Lancers reach the championship game of the Southern Section Division III playoffs. Sunny Hills also captured the Freeway League title, and Knighten was the Freeway League MVP.

Knighten was named Sunny Hills’ player of the year for the third straight season this spring, while she was also honored as the Lancers’ overall athlete of the year. She earned a spot on the Cal-Hi Sports first-team all-state squad for medium-size schools and was an All-Orange County honoree for the third straight season. Knighten was also named to the Orange County Coaches All-Star team, and she was selected to play for Orange County in the Orange County vs. Riverside County All-Star game following her senior season.

Knighten played her club ball for the Corona Angels coached by Marty Tyson, the father of Husker sophomore infielder Dawna Tyson. She is expected to compete for playing time on a talented 2014 NU infield that returns all but one starter from last year’s squad, which finished with a No. 8 national ranking after earning the program’s seventh trip to the Women’s College World Series.